Stop motion for drawing frame



y 1966 R. M. CARDON STOP MOTION FOR DRAWING FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 27, 1963 INVENTOR.

RENE M CARDON M 4/9344,

FIG.6

ATTORNEYS y 26, 1966 R. M. CARDON STOP MOTION FOR DRAWING FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 27, 1963 3 gm Q r 25 FIGZQ RENE M. CARDON flMOP/fiZflAu ATTORNEYS FIG.3

United States Patent 3,262,160 STOP MOTION FOR DRAWING FRAME Rene M. Cardon, 164 Maple St., Woonsocket, RI. Filed Nov. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 326,460 4 Claims. (Cl. 19-.25)

This invention relates to a drafting frame particularly the type utilized in the drafting of cotton fibers in which the sliver is drawn from a can, attenuated by means of rolls and packaged by a flyer and is also generally applicable to frames for drafting worsted and synthetic fibers. Should a strand end break, it is desirable that the frame be stopped so that the broken and uncontrolled strand will not accumulate about some moving part and which will require its subsequent removal.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a means for stopping the frame should any one of the strand ends along the length of the frame become broken or unduly slack for some reason or other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stopping means for each strand end which may be readily adjusted lengthwise of the frame so as to be in the desired position with reference to each one of the strand ends.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will be of simple construction and thus inexpensive of manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which may be easily installed or removed from position should occasion require.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will be extremely sensitive so that its operation may be quick and thus stop the machine almost imrnediately upon a fault or break occurring.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view through the frame showing generally the location of the stopping means which I provide;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of a part of the frame showing the position of the stopping means;

FIG. 3 is a view on a larger scale showing the detail of the control device which is used in connection with each of the roving ends;

FIG. 4 is a fragmental view at rightangles to that of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a part of the stopping means; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the operation of the electrical system.

In proceeding with this invention, I have 'utilized an electric circuit for stopping the drafting frame and have located electrical conductors extending the length of the drafting frame and in the area between the rolls and the packaging means and extending across the multiplicity of roving ends as they lead from the drafting rolls to the packages. I then utilize a device for each of the roving ends which will be supported on one of these electrical conductors and will be so pivoted thereon that it will lean against the roving end and be supported thereby, the arrangement being such that should the roving end fail, or the tension on the roving end become slack this device will then swing so that a U-shaped portion at its lower end which is normally out of contact with the other conductor will then bring up against the other conductor and complete a circuitfrom one conductor to the other conductor so that means will be actuated to stop the drafting frame, thus permitting the roving end to be pieced up and the frame again started.

3,262,160 Patented July 26, 1966 With reference to the drawings, 10 designates the support for the several roll stands 11 which are mounted at spaced intervals along the length of the frame. The bottom rolls are supported in bearings in the roll stands,

.while saddles position the top rolls and apply pressure thereon by the usual weighting means. Thus, there is a front bottom roll 12 with its companion top roll 13, a bottom back roll 14 with its companion top back roll 15, an intermediate bottom roll 16 and its companion intermediate top roll 17 providing drafting means for the different strand ends. As is usual, the bottom rolls comprise fluted sections as seen in FIG. 2 at 20, and conventionally shown in FIG. 1, which occur at various locations along each section of the rods which make up the bottom rolls. These roll sections are provided with slot and tongue connections at their ends and are all driven from one end of the machine by gears in the usual manner. The top rolls are provided in pairs of cots 21 on an arbor 22 which are weighted by suitable saddles 23 to provide the desired pressure upon the strand which extends between the general top rolls and bottom rolls for attenuating purposes. Brackets 25 are mounted on every other roll stand of the frame of the machine and extend upwardly to slidably support the shipper rod 26 which extends the length of the machine and may be moved lengthwise of the machine from one position to another to stop or start the machine, through the actuation of an electrical circuit to control the motor which drives the frame.

The strand ends, one of which extends between each fluted bottom roll and its companion top roll, are designated as 30 and extend as sliver 29 from cans in the back of the frame through trumpets 31 thence between the sets of rolls, and to be delivered from the front pair of rolls and thence extend downwardly to packaging means which for each roving end consists of a spindle 3'5 with a core 36 mounted thereon and with a flyer 37 revolving about the core to dispose the roving 30 in packaged form. -In order that there may be larger packages accommodated, the packages are staggered so as to provide a row of inner packages 38 and a row of outer packages designated 39. The roving makes a rather steep angle from the delivery rolls to each of these packages and particularly a steep angle to the inner package 38 as may be seen clearly from FIG. 1.

The stop motion which I have provided is located in the area beneath or back of the roving as they extend from the delivery rolls to their package and is mounted upon the lower portion of the bracket for the shipper rod. It is designated generally 40 as seen in FIG. 1.

This stop motion 40 comprises a conductor 41 (see FIG. 2), and .a conductor 42 which extend lengthwise of the machine and acrossthe roving ends 30 which are spaced the distance between the centers of the rolls. The upper conductor 41 comprises an electrical-conducting wire which is supported by means of insulating gromrnets 43 (see also FIG. 5) mounted upon the lower portions of each of the shipper rod brackets 25. The grommet consists of a cylindrical piece of insulation which is grooved so as to receive the conducting wire. This conducting wire 41 extends about an end sheave 44 and is drawn taut through the intermediate grommets 43 and about a sheave 45 which is adjustably held in position by a bracket 46 and threaded shaft 47 mounted upon the ends 48 of the drafting frame.

The lower conductor 42 also comprises a wire which is conveniently held by the turnback portions 41 of the wire 41 about the sheave 44 and sheave 45 but is insulated therefrom by insulators 49. The lower conductor 42 may be guided also in the grooves of the underportions of the grommets 43. Thus, the grommets serve not only to guide and hold the wires in generally parallel relation but also serve to space them apart and the sheave 45 permits of an adjustment to draw both conducting wires taut. These conductors are part of an electrical circuit for stopping the frame and are in this circuit-as will be explained by the diagrammatic view hereinafter described. Normally when the frame is in operation the electrical circuit is open and remains open unless some conductor bridges across the conductors 41 and 42. The conductors may be bridged by any one of the circuit controlling devices, there being one device for each of the rovings. Such circuit controlling device is designated generally 50 and seen more particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4.

This controlling device is a simple piece of electrically conducting wire which is sufficiently stiff to maintain itself in the position to which it is bent. It is bent to provide a body portion 51 having a generally open helical loop 52 bent into it and a laterally extending or U-shaped lower portion 53 and an upper hook portion 54. By means of this generally helical wide pitch loop 52 the device may be laid with its extending portion 51 nearly parallel to the conductor in such a position that the offset hook 54 will tend to tip the conductor about this pivotal mounting from .a generally vertical position to a position inclined toward the hook portion 54 as seen in FIG. 3. When in the upright nearly vertical position such as shown in FIG 2, or dotted in FIG. 3, this controlling device will have its U-shaped bridging portion 53 spaced from the conductor 42 as may be clearly seen in FIG. 4 and in this position there will be provided insulating sleeves 55 on each of the legs 56 so that no contact will be made between the controlling device 50 and the conductor 42. The controlling device is supported in a nearly vertical position as in FIG. 2 so that it leans against the roving end 30 and is thus supported in this position. In this nearly vertical position it is in contact with the conductor 41, but is out of contact with the conductor 42 as explained in connection with the showing in FIG. 4. However, should the yarn break, it will permit the device to shift from the position shown in dotted lines, FIG. 3, to the position shown in full lines in FIG. 3, and when thus tilted, the U-portion 53 will then come into contact with the conductor 42 as shown in full lines in FIG. 3 and make an electrical contact between the conductors 41 and 42 to complete the electrical circuit.

In order to properly position a control device along the length of the conductors so that it will be in the proper position with reference to each of the roving ends, I provide friction sleeves 60 and 62 which may be moved along and held in position on the wires 41 and 42 so as to locate the device in its proper operating pivotal position with reference to the roving end. I also provide another friction sleeve 61 on. the conductor 41 which may be slid therealong to abut the helical loop 52 and which will hold the control device in locked upright position should certain drafting rolls of an entire frame be unused.

With reference to the diagrammatic showing in FIG. 6, the main drive shaft 65 of the roving frame is driven from motor M through suitable means illustrated as a belt 66 from shaft 67. This motor is controlled through leads 68 from a standard motor controller 69 interposed in the circuit and is interrupted by the completion of the electric circuit across the conductor wires 41 and 42 by the control device 50 so that when the circuit is completed, the motor will stop driving the frame.

Continuing reference to FIG. 6, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that when contact is made between the wires 41 and 42 that effectively the grid of the gas tube 70 will be placed substantially at plate voltage causing conduction thereof. This conduction causes a current flow in the plate cathode circuit of the gas tube 70 which current flow actuates relay coil 71 opening normally closed contacts 72 which in turn open the control circuit to the motor controller 69. As is customary in gas tube control circuits, the angle of firing of the gas tube may be varied and for this purpose a potentiometer 73 is provided. Direct current is used to control the grid and to provide this source a network made up of rectifier 76, smoothing resistance 75 and capacitor 74, form the supply for resistive load 73 to which the grid of the gas tube 70 is variably connected. One advantage in using the circuit illustrated resides in its great sensitivity to position changes of the controlling device 50. For example, if lint or other foreign matter prevents a positive electrical contact from being made across the wires 41 and 42 there will still be a sufficient capacity change in the plate grid circuit to develop positive spikes of voltage at the grid causing conduction of the gas tube, particularly under the most sensitive firing angle control settings. This feature therefore eliminates one of the prior drawbacks existent in stop motion devices. It will, of course, be apparent that other forms of control circuits are equally suitable and that the foregoing has been shown merely by way of example of a suitable fashion in accomplishing the necessary result.

I claim:

1. In a drafting frame, a plurality of pairs of delivery draft rolls, packaging means for each end of strand drawn, means including an electric circuit for stopping the frame upon energizing the circuit, said circuit including a pair of conductors in generally a common plane spaced to open said circuit and extending generally lengthwise of the frame across a plurality of strands in the area between the draft rolls and the packaging means, a plurality of circuit controlling devices each having a portion to be engaged and supported by a strand and positioned to be controlled by the travel of a strand end from its draft rolls to its packaging means and each in electrical contact with and rockably mounted on one of said conductors so as to tend to swing in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said conductors and toward the other of said spaced conductors and be supported against such swinging by a strand end being drawn, said device being shaped so as to contact the other conductor when unsupported to complete said electrical circuit, said circuit controlling devices comprising a wire provided with a loop to embrace said one conductor for rockably mounting it thereon and a U-shaped portion at its end disposed with the other conductor located between the arms of the U and spaced from the bridging portion thereof when the device is supported by the strand end, said bridging portion engaging said other conductor when the device is unsupported by the strand end and rocked about its mounting.

2. In a drafting frame as in claim 1 wherein said arms of the U are covered with electrical insulation and said bridging portion is exposed to provide an electrical conductor.

3. In a drafting frame, a plurality of pairs of delivery draft rolls, packaging means for each end of strand drawn, means including an electric circuit for stopping the frame upon energizing the circuit, said circuit including a pair of conductors in generally a common plane spaced to open said circuit and extending generally lengthwise of the frame across a plurality of strands in the area between the draft rolls and the packaging means, a plurality of circuit controlling devices each having a portion to be engaged and supported by a strand and positioned to be controlled by the travel of a strand end from its draft rolls to its packaging means and each in electrical contact with and rockably mounted on one of said conductors so as to tend to swing in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said conductors and toward the other of said spaced conductors and be supported against such swinging by a strand end being drawn, said device being shaped so as to contact the 5 6 other conductor when unsupported to complete said elec- References Cited by the Examiner trical circuit, and stops mounted on and frictionally UNITED STATES PATENTS movable along said conductors to locate the rockably 642,457 1/1900 Ivey 200*6118 X mounted device and provide limits for the swinging move- 5 1,372,556 3/ 1921 Sawtell 2851 ment of the device with reference to the roving. 2,129,639 9/ 1938 Adams at I11 a drafting frame as in claim 3 wherein said i 2793:490 5/1957 Adams 5781 cuit controlling devices each comprise a Wire provided MERVIN STEIN, 'y Examine!- With a loop to embrace said one conductor for rockably DONALD PARKER, NEWTON, mounting it thereon, 10 Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN A DRAFTING FRAME, A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF DELIVERY DRAFT ROLLS, PACKAGING MEANS FOR EACH END OF STRAND DRAWN, MEANS INCLUDING AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT FOR STOPPING THE FRAME UPON ENERGIZING THE CIRCUIT, SAID CIRCUIT INCLUDING A PAIR OF CONDUCTORS IN GENERALLY A COMMON PLANE SPACED TO OPEN SAID CIRCUIT AND EXTENDING GENERALLY LENGTHWISE OF THE FRAME ACROSS A PLURALITY OF STRANDS IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE DRAFT ROLLS AND THE PACKAGING MEANS, A PLURALITY OF CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICES EACH HAVING A PORTION TO BE ENGAGED AND SUPPORTED BY A STRAND AND POSITIONED TO BE CONTROLLED BY THE TRAVEL OF A STRAND END FROM ITS DRAFT ROLLS TO ITS PACKAGING MEANS AND EACH IN ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH AND ROCKABLY MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID CONDUCTORS SO AS TO TEND TO SWING IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID CONDUCTORS AND TOWARD THE OTHER OF SAID SPACED CONDUCTORS AND BE SUPPORTED AGAINST SUCH SWINGING BY A STRAND END BEING DRAWN, SAID DEVICE BEING SHAPED SO AS TO CONTACT THE OTHER CONDUCTOR WHEN UNSUPPORTED TO COMPLETE SAID ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, SAID CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICES COMPRISING A WIRE PROVIDED WITH A LOOP TO EMBRACE SAID ONE CONDUCTOR FOR ROCKABLY MOUNTING IT THEREON AND A U-SHAPED PORTION AT ITS END DISPOSED WITH THE OTHER CONDUCTOR LOCATED BETWEEN THE ARMS OF THE U AND SPACED FROM THE BRIDGING PORTION THEREOF WHEN THE DEVICE IS SUPPORTED BY THE STRAND END, SAID BRIDGING PORTION ENGAGING SAID OTHER CONDUCTOR WHEN THE DEVICE IS UNSUPPORTED BY THE STRAND END AND ROCKED ABOUT ITS MOUNTING. 